Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Vivaldi: Concerto for mandolin & strings in C

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Romeros family--Celedonio, Celin, Pepe, and Angel--helped propel the status of the classical guitar repertoire during the '60s. The father and three sons had impeccable technique and an obvious love for the works of their Spanish homeland. On this disc, the Romeros clan perform memorable versions of two Rodrigo guitar concertos and three concertos from Vivaldi transcribed for guitar. These are gorgeous works, and the quartet--backed by the feathery touch of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Victor Alessandro--is in top form. Rodrigo's Concierto Andaluz for Four Guitars and Orchestra was originally commissioned from the composer Celedonio Romero, and the ensemble provide a sensitive and lively reading of the folksy concerto. Vivaldi's works are an added bonus, especially the perennial Concerto in C for Mandolin and Orchestra, here adapted for the guitar artistry of Celedonio Romero. --Edward Garabedian

Tracks:

Air 'On the G String' - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Morning - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Canon In D - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Gymnopedie No.1 - City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
II. Andante - Stephen Hough
Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
In Paradisum - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Clair De Lune - Dame Moura Lympany
II. Andate - Yehudi Menuhin
The Swan - Osian Ellis
II. Lento E Largo - Tranquillissimo - Zofia Kilanowicz
II. Andantino - James Galway
II. Largo - Yehudi Menuhin
Nimrod - London Symphony Orchestra
Blow the Wind - Pie Jesu - Jocelyn Pook
Variation 18 - Cecile Ousset
Pavane Op.50 - Gareth Morris

Tracks:

Zion Hort Die Wachter Singen - South German Madrigal Choir
Adagio In G Minor - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Minuet - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
II. Largo - Andrei Gavrilov
Meditation - Hans Kalafusz
I. Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'amour (Barcarolle) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
II. Andante - Nigel North
II. Adagio - Jack Brymer
Intermezzo - Philharmonia Orchestra
I. Moderato - London Chamber Orchestra
O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Sinfonia Of London
II. Adagio Sostenuto (Opening) - Cecile Ousset
Nocturne - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
II. Adagio (Opening) - Julian Bream
Adagio For Strings Op.11a - The Philadelphia Orchestra
Entr'acte To Act III - Orchestre National De France

Amazon.com

You want relaxing classical music that'll soothe your soul but won't lull you into sleep? Here's a double CD for you. The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World ... Ever! does its best to cover both well-worn classical favorites (Bach's "Air on the G String," Pachelbel's "Cannon," Debussy's "Clair de Lune") and some eclectic left-field choices (an excerpt from Górecki's Symphony No. 3, Jocelyn Pook's "Blow the Wind," and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. The performances of most of these excerpts are top-notch--artists include Sir Neville Marriner, James Galway, Jacqueline du Pré and the Philadelphia Orchestra--and there's enough variety here for everyone. --Edward Garabedian

Customer Reviews:

Lives Up To The Title, Fine Variety Of Genre's........2007-02-04

This CD is a great way to enjoy a large variety of Classical Composers & many of their best known pieces. Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," is an all time favorite. There are vocals, Piano pieces, & some fine Violins. I found the latter the most enjoyable. Here you can find Rodrigo & Pachelbell. Samuel Barber's haunting Adagio will make your skin tingle. This may not be to everyones taste, but if you wish to relax? Give this a couple of listens.

Good for relaxing pregnant women.......2007-01-17

I stumbled onto this album whilst searching bit torrent websites for classical music. I don't normally listen to classical music but thought it might be relaxing for my pregnant wife. After hearing the quality of the performances, the arrangement, and the recording I decided to buy the album from amazon. All the songs you would expect from a "best album in the world" are there and they are not boring to listen to like a lot of other classical albums. I now play this album in the car constantly and the wife requested it be played at the hospital during the birth.

Too much opera.......2007-01-10

If it wasn't for the opera this would be a great CD.

Does what it set out to do, very well.......2006-11-15

So i'm a classical music veteran, someone who prefers to collect a complete work, rather than classical compilations. I probably would not have listened to this album at all if my dad didnt buy it for me as a gift. By now, i own the complete works that over half of the excepts on this disc come from. I am a purist if ever there was one.

That said, i totally adore this set because i have learned to take it on its own terms. These discs weren't meant for expert classical listeners, so a review from that sort of mindset is useless. This set was meant for pure, easy listening, and for a basic starters kit for classical newbies. Most of all, it was just meant to do what the title says, to relax the average human being. classical expert or not.

Yes, some of these pieces have been altered or shortened, like Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto Andantino, but they have been edited for a good enough reason: the full versions would have been too long to flow with the rest of the album. And also, the full versions contain so much development that they don't become easy listening anymore. The shortened versions work in the context of the album. Most essentially, the shortened versions on the discs still convey the main flavor the composers were going for. The melodies and themes remain unchanged.

To sum up, it is true that when i want to actually listen deeply to classical music, this album would never be a choice. I would want to hear the complete works like the composers intended. But at certain times when i simply don't mind about that stuff, when i just need to loosen up and free my mind of stress with some nice melodies, this set does the job well enough.

Last but not least: being a purist and a classical buff, i am very particular about performance quality. I was very glad to find that EMI did not get lazy about this. All the artists are world-class, and all the performances are at least exceptional. Some performances are even quite excellent, like the Clair De Lune, which is one of the best i've heard. (Credit to Dame Lympany, the pianist.)

So once again, recommended for its stated purpose, to relax. I am a purist, a classical buff, and i still enjoy this disc. That says something.

TRULY The most relaxing and beautiful music ever written........2006-11-10

This album along with Volume 2 are now the two most valued albums in my music collection. I have all of the songs contained on these two albums but they are scattered through at least a dozen different albums and several are not performed by artists such as those that recorded this album and Volume 2.
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!!

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

performance-- par excellence!

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0002O390M
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Customer Reviews:

performance-- par excellence!.......2006-08-19

The way the Los Romeros play these guitar pieces is simply divine, or I should say hypnotic...

Average customer rating:

Guitar Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Guitar Greatest Hits

ASIN: B0000DJZ7L
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

Sevilla - Eduardo Fernandez
Granada - Andres Segovia
Tango, Op. 165, No. 2 - Pepe Romero
Spanish Dance No. 5, Op. 37 'Andaluza' - Pepe Romero
Asturias - Pepe Romero
Recuerdos De La Alhambra - Eduardo Fernandez
Soleares - Eduardo Fernandez
Malague Pepe Romero
Romance D'Amore - Goran Sollscher
Bouree - Narciso Yepes
Gavotte - Pepe Romero
Canarios - Alexandre Lagoya
Sonata In E Major, K.380 (L23) - Pepe Romero
Cavatina - Goran Sollscher
Largo - Goran Sollscher
Allegro - Pepe Romero
Adagio - Pepe Romero
Villano Y Ricercare (Adagietto - Andante Moderato - Andres Segovia

Average customer rating:

Too disjointed

Bream Adagios

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Guitarra! A Musical Journey Through Spain
Together Again/ Julian Bream & John Williams
Together/Julian Bream & John Williams

ASIN: B00005V8YM
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Tracks:

Clair De Lune
Reverie
Pavane For A Dead Princess
Dolly Suite, Op. 56: Berceuse/Lullaby
Concerto In D For Lute And Strings, RV 93: Largo - The Julian Bream Consort
Concerto In G For Two Lutes And Strings, RV 532: Andante - Julian Bream
Fantasia Para Un Gentilhombre: Espanoleta - Joaquin Rodrigo
Concierto De Aranjuez: Adagio - Joaquin Rodrigo
Guitar Quintet In E Minor, G.451: Adagio - The Cremona String Quartet
Guitar Concerto In A, Op.30: Andante Siciliano - Mauro Giuliani
L'Encouragement, Op. 34: Cantabile
Sonata In C Sharp Minor - Domenico Cimarosa
Serenade In A, Op.96: Larghetto
Dolly Suite, Op.56: Dolly's Garden
Dolly Suite, Op.56: Tendresse

Customer Reviews:

Too disjointed.......2006-07-29

I bought this on a whim to relax. I have played classical piano for 25 years (for my own enjoyment) but had little exposure to the same music transposed to classical guitar. I recognized most of the selections. The first 4 tracks really delivered but the middle third of the CD becomes abruptly loud and soft and, frankly, sounds poorly mixed. The latter part of the CD finishes well. The CD could have been uniformly fantastic if some of the middle selections had been left out, or replaced by less orchestral pieces. Because of the disconnect I rarely play the CD, knowing that the quiet, reflective mood it induces will soon be sonically destroyed.

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Vivaldi: Concerto for mandolin & strings in C

Average customer rating:

Not so much

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Vivaldi: Concerto for mandolin & strings in C
Joaquin Rodrigo , Antonio Vivaldi , San Antonio Symphony Orchestra , Victor Alessandro , Angel Romero , Celedonio Romero , Celin Romero , and Pepe Romero
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0000057N3
Release Date: 1996-05-14

Tracks:

Concierto de Aranjuez For Guitar And Orchestra: 1. Allegro con spirito
Concierto de Aranjuez For Guitar And Orchestra: 2. Adagio
Concierto de Aranjuez For Guitar And Orchestra: 3. Allegro gentile
Concierto Andaluz For Four Guitars And Orchestra: 1. Tiempo de Bolero
Concierto Andaluz For Four Guitars And Orchestra: 2. Adagio
Concierto Andaluz For Four Guitars And Orchestra: 3. Allegretto
Concerto In B Minor For Four Guitars And Orchestra (Transcribed From The Concerto For Four Violins And Orchestra, Op. 3, No. 10 ('L'Estro Armonico'): 1. Allegro
Concerto In B Minor For Four Guitars And Orchestra (Transcribed From The Concerto For Four Violins And Orchestra, Op. 3, No. 10 ('L'Estro Armonico'): 2. Largo - Larghetto
Concerto In B Minor For Four Guitars And Orchestra (Transcribed From The Concerto For Four Violins And Orchestra, Op. 3, No. 10 ('L'Estro Armonico'): 3. Allegro
Concerto In C For Guitar And Orchestra (Transcribed From The Concerto In C For Mandolin And Orchestra): 1. Allegro
Concerto In C For Guitar And Orchestra (Transcribed From The Concerto In C For Mandolin And Orchestra): 2. Largo
Concerto In C For Guitar And Orchestra (Transcribed From The Concerto In C For Mandolin And Orchestra): 3. Allegro
Concerto In G For Two Guitars And Orchestra (Transcribed From The Concerto In G For Two Mandolins And Orchestra): 1. Allegro
Concerto In G For Two Guitars And Orchestra (Transcribed From The Concerto In G For Two Mandolins And Orchestra): 2. Andante
Concerto In G For Two Guitars And Orchestra (Transcribed From The Concerto In G For Two Mandolins And Orchestra): 3. Allegro

Amazon.com

The Romeros family--Celedonio, Celin, Pepe, and Angel--helped propel the status of the classical guitar repertoire during the '60s. The father and three sons had impeccable technique and an obvious love for the works of their Spanish homeland. On this disc, the Romeros clan perform memorable versions of two Rodrigo guitar concertos and three concertos from Vivaldi transcribed for guitar. These are gorgeous works, and the quartet--backed by the feathery touch of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Victor Alessandro--is in top form. Rodrigo's Concierto Andaluz for Four Guitars and Orchestra was originally commissioned from the composer Celedonio Romero, and the ensemble provide a sensitive and lively reading of the folksy concerto. Vivaldi's works are an added bonus, especially the perennial Concerto in C for Mandolin and Orchestra, here adapted for the guitar artistry of Celedonio Romero. --Edward Garabedian

Customer Reviews:

Not so much.......2002-08-24

Clear and bold Mercury engineering, but not nearly as good a performance as the Naxos one with Norbert Kraft.